Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership

Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 is happening between 27 February to 12 March 2023. This is the time each year when people and organisations commit to take action to deliver a fairer deal for people producing goods like coffee, cocoa, bananas, and many more. Fairtrade offers people who farm and produce these goods a minimum price and the Fairtrade Premium payment, which can deliver fairer incomes for farmers and workers and provide them with resources to spend on what their community needs, which helps them to plan for and adapt to the cost of living crisis and the effects of climate change. There are many organisations across Newcastle upon Tyne who support and sell Fairtrade products. Find out more about Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 here: Fairtrade Fortnight 2023

What is Fairtrade?

Supporting Fairtrade in Newcastle means supporting both farmers and workers overseas, and local businesses and organisations here in Newcastle who sell Fairtrade goods. It also helps tackle climate change by supporting producers in areas of the world affected by it to plant trees, protect soils, and diversify their crops, so that they can continue to farm and support their families. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world who produce products like coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, flowers, honey, or fruit. 

Fairtrade offers producers and farmers the Fairtrade Minimum Price, guaranteeing them a minimum price for the goods they sell as Fairtrade, even if the market price is lower. When the market price is higher than the Fairtrade Minimum Price, they will receive the higher market price. They also receive the Fairtrade Premium, which is an additional sum of money that goes into a communal fund for workers and farmers to use as they see fit to improve their social, economic and environmental conditions.

With Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day and support organisations across Newcastle. With simple shopping choices, you can get farmers and produces a better deal to help them adapt to crises, such as cost of living increases and climate change. That means they can make their own decisions, control their future and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.

Newcastle is a Fairtrade City

When Newcastle became a Fairtrade City in 2003 we were one of the first cities in the country to achieve this, and we have kept up our status ever since. Here’s some more information about it:

Newcastle is a Fairtrade City! 

Fairtrade City status is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation, which is the UK member of Fairtrade International (FLO), which is the standard setting and certification organisation for Fairtrade. The Fairtrade Foundation has  a wealth of information at www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership

In Newcastle the group that works to maintain our Fairtrade City status is known as the Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership. Each member is responsible for the delivery of our Fairtrade Action Plan and for encouraging other individuals and organisations to participate in Fairtrade activities. The Partnership consists of organisations across Newcastle who sell or support Fairtrade, including Fairtrade schools and colleges, and places of worship. There is a Steering Group which works to support this, and to ensure we keep our Fairtrade City status. We are always looking for new members from Newcastle community groups and businesses who support Fairtrade. If you’d like to join us, please complete this short form: 

Join the Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership and Directory

If you've got questions, email us at: fairtrade@newcastle.gov.uk or find us on Facebook here: Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership on Facebook 
 

Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership AGM Date 2023

The Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership meets online via Microsoft Teams. If you have questions about this, please do email us at: fairtrade@newcastle.gov.uk​.

TBC March 2023 - Our AGM, all are welcome. Watch this space for updates!

We'll be organising meetings on an ad hoc basis throughout the year, and having discussions online via Teams and email. If you want to get involved, please email us or find us on Facebook!